Interchangeable ornament for buttons



May 2, 1967 T. R. RYAN 3,316,601

INTERCHANGEABLE ORNAMENT FOR BUTTONS Filed Nov. 20, 1964 INVENTOR. I5 26 THOMAS R. RYAN A TTOR'NEYS United States Patent 3,316,601 INTERCHANGEABLE ORNAMENT FOR BUTTONS Thomas R. Ryan, 535 Latimer Road,

Santa Monica, Calif. 90402 Filed Nov. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 412,735 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-113) This invention relates to an improved interchangable ornament which may be easily manually attached to and removed from buttons.

In my US. Patent 2,880,487 issued Apr. 7, 1959, there is disclosed and claimed an interchangeable ornament for buttons particularly useful for simulating culf links and the like by positioning the ornament over the conventional shirt button. With such a device, it is possible for a person with a conventional button-cuff shirt to provide the appearance of wearing a shirt with French cuffs held by ornamental cuff links.

It is advantageous in devices of the foregoing type that they be readily securable to a button without any appreciable effort and that they be capable of being removed very easily without damaging the button or the threads securing the button. In addition, it is important that the ornament remain in place over the button so as not to be dislodged should unintentional forces to the button. Another important consideration is the provision of an extremely rugged structure to the end that constant application and removal of the ornament will not result in appreciable wear.

Bearing all of the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an interchangeable ornament for buttons which includes improved features over the ornaments disclosed in my above-referred-to United States patent.

More particularly, it is an object to provide an interchangeable ornament for buttons which includes novel biasing means for securing the same in closed position to cover the button and yet permits very easy removal.

Another object is to provide an improved ornament for a button which, once secured in closed position, cannot accidentally slide from the button should it be subject to any inadvertent forces.

Still another object is to provide an improved interchangeable ornament for buttons which is inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, and employs a minimum number of parts so that it may be readily assembled and will be reliable in operation.

Briefly, these and many objects and advantages of this invention are attained by providing an ornamental member together with a suitable retaining means therefor. The retaining means itself includes a base plate having a pair of integrally extending prong elements adapted to slide beneath the button so that the threads securing the button pass between the prong elements. To this extent, the structure is similar to that described in my above-mentioned patent. However, in accordance with the present invention the base plate includes a rear central tab element extending upwardly and designed to co-operate with a novel ornament holder. The ornament holder serves to support the ornamental member and itself is hinged to the rear of the base plate. This holder includes a resilient strip portion having its free end engaging the upper end of the tab on the base plate and functions as a biasing means to hold the stnrcture closed when the holder and ornamental member are swung about the hinge means to cover the button. In addition, the extreme ends of the prong elements are turned upwardly slightly to engage frictionally suitable co-operating means on the holder to thereby retain the ornamental member closed over the button.

A further feature of the invention relates to a downbe applied.

' resulting appearance of cuff 10 is wardly curved central portion of the front edge of the holder which will curve over the side portion of the button adjacent the free ends of the prong elements, thus preventing inadvertent slipping of the base plate structure from the button once the ornamental member has been closed to cover the button.

A better understanding of the foregoing as well as further features and advantages of this invention will be had by now referring to a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a persons arm, coat sleeve, and shirt sleeve in position preparatory to receiving an interchangeable ornament shown spaced therefrom in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE '2 is a somewhat larger cutaway perspective view of the interchangable ornament of this invention in open position for attaching to a cuff button;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 illustrating the interchangeable ornament in the closed position, the ornamental member itself not being shown to avoid obscuring other portions of the drawing; and,

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view partly exploded of the interchangeable ornament and useful in explaining certain features thereof.

Referring first to FIGURE 1 there is shown a cuff 10 for a mans shirt secured by a conventional button 11. To the right of this portion of the drawing there is illustrated the interchangeable ornament 12 of this invention. As shown, the ornament includes a retaining means including a base plate 13 having prong elements 14 and 15 extending therefrom. These elements form part of a basic plate hinged to an ornamental member 16 all as will become clear as the description proceeds.

In attaching the device in FIGURE 1, the prongs 14 and 15 are slid under the button 11 so that the securing threads of the button pass between the prongs 14 and 15. The ornamental member 16 together with a suitable holder structure on the under side thereof is then swung downwardly to a position covering the button 11. The that of a French cuff provided with a cuff link.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, details of the interchangeable ornament will be evident. As shown, the extreme free ends of the prongs 14 and 15 are turned upwardly as at 17 and 18. These prongs define therebetween a generally U-shaped receiving cavity or slot 19 through which the threads of the button pass when the prongs are positioned bneath the button as described heretofore.

The rear corners of the base plate 13 terminate in upturned ears 20 and 21 defining a hinge means. The rear edge of the plate terminates at its central portion in an upturned tab 22 which is positioned to the rear of the axis of the hinge means defined by the ears 20 and 21.

Co-o-perating with the base plate 13 is an ornament holder 23 arranged to receive a rivet 24 for securing the ornamental member 16 to the holder. Preferably, the ornamental member 16 is box-shaped with the holder 23 positioned within the side walls of the box so that when the structure is closed over the button, the retaining means will be eclipsed.

Side portions of the ornament holder 23 as indiciated at 25 and 26 are hinged to the ears 20 and 21. A central remaining portion of the holder is in the form of an integrally extending elongated resilient strip 27, the free end of which rests against the tab 22.

With the side portions 25 and 26 pivoted to the hinge means 20 and 21, it will be evident that the holder 23 together with the ornamental member 16 may be swung about the hinge means to a closed position over the prong elements 14 and 15 of the base plate 13.

With reference now to FIGURE 3, there is illustrated I; a the holder 23 in its closed or swung over position. The ornamental member 16 is omitted in FIGURE 3 in order that the ornament holder 23 may be illustrated. As shown, the end of the resilient strip 27 rests on the top edge of the tab 22 as described and since the tab 22 is disposed rearwardly of the axis of the hinge means, the bias exerted by the strip will tend to hold the holder 23 in its closed position on top of the base plate.

As will be evident in both FIGURES 2 and 3, the forward or front edge of the holder 23 includes downwardly turned portions 28 and 29 which co-operate with the upturned portions 17 and 18 of the prong elements. This co-operation takes the form of a frictional engagement which tends to secure the holder in its downward or closed position. In addition, the central front edge portion of the holder 23 includes a downwardly curved portion 30, this portion being disposed between the frictional engaging means.

Referring now to the side view in FIGURE 4, it will be noted that in a closed position, the extreme end of the prong element 18 is frictionally received under a portion of the curved end 29 of the holder 23. It will also be noted that the central curved portion 30 will engage the front edge or side of a button when the prong members are slid beneath the button on either side of the button securing threads should there be a tendency for the structure to slide off of the button. Thus, the curved portion 30 will aid in preventing inadvertent sliding of the base plate from beneath the button.

With respect to the structure illustrated in FIGURE 4, the ornamental member 16 together with the rivet 24 may be secured to the holder 23 by passing the rivet 24 through the opening 24 in the holder and peening the end thereof over. Thus, the base plate and holder may be of constant design while the ornamental member 16 itself may take various shapes and designs, a selected design being attached to the holder. This attaching, of course, takes place during the manufacture of the interchangeable ornament, but a minimum of machine tool steps are required since the same basic retaining means is provided regardless of the particular type of ornamental member secured thereto.

In utilizing the device as described, the prong members 14 and are opened up to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. The resilient strip 27 in this position will tend to maintain the structure open because of its engagement with the rear of the tab 22.

With the structure as illustrated in FIGURE 2 in open position, the prong elements 14 and 15 are slid beneath the button such as the button 11 in FIGURE 1. The ornamental member 16 is then pushed downwardly to swing the ornament and holder about the hinge means so that the holder assumes the position illustrated in FIG- URE 3. As the swinging movement takes place, the reaction force exerted by the upper edge of the tab 22 on the resilient strip 27 will become overcentered and thus exert a force which will tend to close the ornamental member to its completely closed position after it has been partially moved to such position. In addition, the intcrengagement of the curved portions 28 and 29 with the prong ends 17 and 18 will be effected to provide a further holding of the structure in closed position.

The ornament may be removed simply by prying upwardly on the ornamental member 16 and then sliding the prongs 14 and 15 from either side of the threads secur, ing the button,

From the foregoing description, it will thus be evident that the present invention has provided a greatly improved interchangeable ornament. The integral relationship of the ears defining the hinge means and the rear tab with the base plate structure and the prongs 14 and 15 enable this portion to be manufactured in a simple stamping and bending operation. Similarly, the holder 23 can be manufactured in a single step, the resilient biasing strip constituting an integral portion of the holder so that auxiliary springs and the like are not necessary. Finally, and as described fully heretofore, the ornamental member 16 itself may take on various difierent shapes and yet be retained by the same type of retaining structure.

While the ornament has been described in connection with a cuff button, it is to be understood that it may be used to cover any other buttons such as on the front of mens or boys sport shirts, womens and girls blouses, shirts, dresses or any other apparel of similar character. Thus, minor modifications falling clearly within the scope and spirit of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art. The improved interchangeable ornament for buttons is therefore not to be thought of as limited to the one embodiment set forth merely for illustrative purposes.

What is claimed is:

1. An interchangeable ornament for buttons or the like comprising, in combination: an ornamental member dimensioned to overlie and eclipse a button; a retaining means including a base plate having prong elements integrally extending from a forward end and adapted to slide under said button with the button securing threads passing between said prong elements, the rear end of said base plate terminating in an up-turned tab at its central portion and hinge means at its rear corner portions positioned forward of said tab; and an ornament holder hinged to said hinge means and including a central integrally extending resilient strip having a free end engaging said tab, said holder being secured to said ornamental member so that said holder and member may swing about said hinge means to a closed position over said button when said prong elements are secured under said button, said resilient strip biasing said holder in said closed position, the end portions of said pring elements being turned upwardly, said holder including means for frictionally engaging said end portions when said holder is in closed position to aid in holding the same closed, and including a downwardly curved portion at the central part of its forward edge between said means for frictionally engaging the end portions of said prongs to prevent sliding removal of said prongs from under said button when said holder is in closed position.

2. An interchangeable ornament according to claim 1, in which said ornamental member is generally of open box shape with said holder positioned within the side walls of said box shape so that said retaining means is substantially eclipsed from view when said holder and member are in closed position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,020,163 11/1935 Salvo et al. 24-252 X 2,535,139 12/1950 Kanarek 24252 X 2,751,654 6/1956 Armbruster 24113 2,945,363 7/1960 Cataldi 24252 X 3,122,007 2/ 1964 Horland u 24252 X FOREIGN PATENTS 336,462 5/ 1921 Germany.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner,

E, SIMONSEN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN INTERCHANGEABLE ORNAMENT FOR BUTTONS OR THE LIKE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: AN ORNAMENTAL MEMBER DIMENSIONED TO OVERLIE AND ECLIPSE A BUTTON; A RETAINING MEANS INCLUDING A BASE PLATE HAVING PRONG ELEMENTS INTEGRALLY EXTENDING FROM A FORWARD END AND ADAPTED TO SLIDE UNDER SAID BUTTON WITH THE BUTTON SECURING THREADS PASSING BETWEEN SAID PRONG ELEMENTS, THE REAR END OF SAID BASE PLATE TERMINATING IN AN UP-TURNED TAB AT ITS CENTRAL PORTION AND HINGE MEANS AT ITS REAR CORNER PORTIONS POSITIONED FORWARD OF SAID TAB; AND AN ORNAMENT HOLDER HINGED TO SAID HINGE MEANS AND INCLUDING ACENTRAL INTEGRALLY EXTENDING RESILIENT STRIP HAVING A FREE END ENGAGING SAID TAB, SAID HOLDER BEING SECURED TO SAID ORNAMENTAL MEMBER SO THAT SAID HOLDER AND MEMBER MAY SWING ABOUT SAID HINGE MEANS TO A CLOSED POSITION OVER SAID BUTTON, SAID SAID PRONG ELEMENTS ARE SECURED UNDER SAID BUTTON, SAID RESILIENT STRIP BIASING SAID HOLDER IN SAID CLOSED POSITION, THE END PORTIONS OF SAID PRING ELEMENTS BEING TURNED UPWARDLY, SAID HOLDER INCLUDING MEANS FOR FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING SAID END PORTIONS WHEN SAID HOLDER IS IN CLOSED POSITION TO AID IN HOLDING THE SAME CLOSED, AND INCLUDING A DOWNWARDLY CURVED PORTION AT THE CENTRAL PART OF ITS FORWARD EDGE BETWEEN SAID MEANS FOR FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING THE END PORTIONS OF SAID PRONGS TO PREVENT SLIDING REMOVAL OF SAID PRONGS FROM UNDER SAID BUTTON WHEN SAID HOLDER IS IN CLOSED POSITION. 